Buffalo TeraStation TS3420R
Score: 74/100Buffalo TeraStation TS3430RN
Score: 81/100Rankings
A 1U rack-mountable 4-bay NAS with up to 32 TB capacity, quad-core CPU, dual 2.5 GbE ports and strong security features, suited for SMBs, but limited by modest memory and lack of SSD cache or snapshots.
A secure, rack-mountable 4-bay NAS with built-in drives, 2.5 GbE networking and strong encryption, aimed at small offices and home labs, but constrained by modest memory and lack of performance-enhancing features.
| Attribute | Buffalo TeraStation TS3420R | Buffalo TeraStation TS3430RN |
|---|---|---|
32 TBbest | 32 TBbest | |
4best | 4best | |
2.5 Gbpsbest | 2.5 Gbpsbest | |
— | 4best | |
1 GB | 2 GBbest | |
| ↓ lower better | 100 Wbest | — |
3 yearsbest | 3 yearsbest | |
| ↓ lower better | 7.7 kgbest | 12.61 kg |
Click an attribute name to sort · Green = best, red = worst (relative to this comparison)
| Attribute | Buffalo TeraStation TS3420R | Buffalo TeraStation TS3430RN |
|---|---|---|
Performance(2) | ||
CPU Model | Annapurna Labs Alpine AL214 | Annapurna Labs Alpine AL524 Quad-core CPU |
System Memory (GB) | 1 GB | 2 GB |
Build & Design(1) | ||
Weight (kg) | 7.7 kg | 12.61 kg |
Connectivity(2) | ||
Supported Network Protocols | TCP/IP, SMB, AFP, NFS, FTP, SFTP, WebDAV | CIFS/SMB, AFP, FTP, FTPS, SFTP, NFS, TCP/IP, iSCSI |
USB Ports | 2 | 3 |
Products in the top-left offer the best value (high score, low price).
Professional reviewers view the TeraStation Essentials as a solid, security-focused NAS that delivers enterprise-grade features at a modest price, highlighting its built-in drives, 2.5 GbE port and comprehensive warranty, while noting the omission of iSCSI, failover and SSD caching as trade-offs for its lower cost.
Everyday users praise the device for its straightforward, out-of-the-box setup, reliable support and robust security, but commonly express concerns about limited memory, the default RAID5 capacity reduction and the lack of performance-enhancing features such as SSD cache or 10 GbE.
Professional reviewers praise the TeraStation 3430RN for its rock-solid reliability, robust security suite and straightforward deployment, highlighting the pre-configured RAID, rail kit and 2.5 GbE networking as key strengths. They note, however, that the modest 2 GB of non-ECC RAM, lack of SSD cache and absence of snapshot capabilities make it less suitable for high-performance or mission-critical scenarios.
Everyday users consistently commend the NAS for its easy setup, dependable day-to-day performance and strong security features, especially the ransomware detection and two-factor authentication. Recurring complaints focus on slower-than-advertised transfer speeds, limited memory causing performance hiccups, and the desire for snapshot functionality and lighter hardware.
“Pre-configured RAID5 with four 2 TB drives for immediate plug-and-play deployment”
“Only 1 GB DDR3 RAM may limit performance under heavy concurrent access”
“Hybrid cloud integration with Amazon S3, Dropbox, Azure and OneDrive”
